Don't Ask A Thought-Provoking Question If You Don't Want A Thoughtful Answer

Last Saturday night, during the Miss USA pageant, Carrie Prejean, Miss California, was asked if more states should follow the lead of Vermont and Iowa and adopt same sex marriage. A serious, thoughtful question that demands a serious thoughtful answer. Miss Prejean gave her honest opinion and said marriage is between a man and a woman; a view shared by our current president, vice president, Secrectary of State, and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Her honesty likely cost her the Miss USA crown.

Regardless of your position on this hot-button issue, you have to respect this young woman for giving an honest answer instead of dancing around the question. Perez Hilton, the openly gay celebrity blogger/judge who asked the question was offended by the answer. Since the pageant aired, he has not missed an opportunity to slam Ms Prejean for her answer. Mr Hilton would do well to remember that name calling is neither a persuavive arguement nor an effective tool to advance your agenda.

The Ancient Greeks did not require a specific civil ceremony, a man and woman mutally decided to regard themselves as husband and wife. Likewise, the Romans had neither marriage ceremony nor a decree of divorce, all that was required was mutual agreement. There was no state involvement in marriage in Protestant Europe until the 1600's. The Council of Trent in 1545 decreed a Catholic marriage must be performed by a priest and two witnesses. The Council also issued a 1566 Catechism which defined marriage as a conjugal union between a man and a woman. John Calvin and his Protestant colleagues enacted the Marriage Ordinance of Geneva which said that marriage must be registered by the state and consecrated by the church in order to be valid. These are consistent with the biblical teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

This issue is bigger than a beauty pageant contestant and a celebrity blogger and deserves more thoughtful debate, consideration, and respect from all involved.